Stephen Early Stout

Stephen Early Stout, 89 of Wilson passed away quietly on Wednesday, October 15, 2025. Family and friends will be received at 10:00 a.m. Monday, October 20, 2025, in the fellowship hall of First Baptist Church, 311 Nash Street, Wilson, with the funeral service following in the sanctuary at 11:00 a.m. A private interment will follow.

Steve was born in Durham on April 16, 1936, the son of Mack and Lina Lee Spence Stout.

He grew up in Durham County and attended Durham Academy and Christ School in Arden. He graduated with a degree in chemical engineering from North Carolina State University. After graduation he went to work in Durham for The Imperial Tobacco Company in their research department and remained with Imperial until his retirement as Vice President of Imperial Tobacco Leaf Services.

He met the love of his life while both were singing in the choir at Watts Street Baptist Church in Durham, where they married on August 11, 1962. They moved to Wilson in 1966.

His position with Imperial required a great deal of travel, with frequent trips to the UK and Canada, yearly trips to India, Brazil, Malawi and Zimbabwe, and many trips to China, South Korea, South Africa, Argentina, Tanzania, and others. Even after retirement he travelled extensively as a consultant. Later in his career he was able to take his wife on many of his trips.

His greatest joy in life was his family, and he is survived by his daughters, Crystal Stout Bruton (Sidney Woodard Bruton, III, and Amanda Stout Bell (Michael Todd Bell); son, Stephen Neil Stout (Holly Yancey Stoug); grandchildren, Sidney Woodard Bruton IV (Katherine), Stephen Gray Bruton (Shannon), William Neil Spence Stout, Stephen Turner Stout, Kathryn Dyer Bell and Luke Patterson Bell; great-grandchildren, Trent Vann Burton, Claire Elizabeth Bruton, Avery Jane Bruton, and Taylor Rose Bruton; brother, David Lee Stout (Kay Kenett Stout); brother in law, John Rogers (Joyce) as well as many nieces, nephews, great nieces, and great nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife of fifty-six years, Jane Rogers Stout, and his great grandson, Connor Bruton.

The family would like to express their great gratitude for Priscilla Evans and Teresa Sauls for their care and friendship, which allowed him to live independently until shortly before his death.

In lieu of flowers, consider a memorial in Stephen’s memory to a charity of your choice.

Condolences directed to Joyner’s Funeral Home and Crematory at www.joyners.net.